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Imperial Hammer #1
Hammer and Crucible
The interstellar array which links worlds together wakes to find it has enemies…The Fourth Carinad Empire stretches across hundreds of settled worlds and stellar cities, and thousands of light years. The Empire’s people and data are linked by a space-folding gates array controlled by the Emperor and his cohorts. When the array evolves into a sentient entity, it recognizes the Emperor as its foe.Danny Andela, once known as The Imperial Hammer, withdrew from the Imperial Rangers decades ago, her reputation in tatters. She lives on her family’s star barge, waiting to die of a rare old age. She would be the array’s perfect weapon against the Emperor, except she no longer gives a damn—about anything.Then Danny learns that the military disaster which essentially ended her life might possibly have been arranged by the Emperor himself…Hammer and Crucible is the first book in the Imperial Hammer space opera science fiction series by award-winning SF author Cameron Cooper.The Imperial Hammer Hammer and An Average Night on Star Long Live the Destroyer of WorldsSpace Opera Science Fiction Novel__Praise and Kudos for Hammer and Fourth place in Hugh Howey's Self-Published Science Fiction ContestThis was a fun, fast paced read full of action and humor.I greedily read in this in one day. You will want to as well.Lots of action and a boatload of twists and turns that grab your attention and won't let go. It has kept me up way past bedtime!He builds the scenes in a way that I feel as though I am actually walking long the ship’s corridors and I can totally relate to all of the characters.I loved Hammer and Crucible! Couldn’t put it down.The plot is fascinating; it is intricate as well as filled with surprises and action.This is a read that really sucks you in!Excellent characters, twists and turns throughout.Written in such a natural hand that you can fully image the spectacular universe the author has created.__Cameron Cooper is the author of the Imperial Hammer space opera series, among others. Cameron tends to write space opera short stories and novels, but also roams across the science fiction landscape. Cameron was raised on a steady diet of Asimov, Heinlein, Herbert, McCaffrey, and others. Peter F. Hamilton, John Scalzi, Martha Wells and Cory Doctorow are contemporary heroes. An Australian Canadian, Cam lives near the Canadian Rockies.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 18, 2020
227 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Cameron Cooper
6 books25 followersCameron Cooper is the author of The Indigo Reports science fiction series and the alter ego for an Amazon #1 bestselling author in an unrelated genre. The Indigo Reports was originally conceived as a one-off series, but readers demanded more. A new series will be released in 2020.
Cameron tends to write space opera short stories and novels, but also roams across the science fiction landscape. He was raised on a steady diet of Asimov, Heinlein, Herbert, McCaffrey, and others. Peter F. Hamilton and John Scalzi are contemporary heroes. He is an Australian Canadian and lives near the Canadian Rockies.
Cameron tends to write space opera short stories and novels, but also roams across the science fiction landscape. He was raised on a steady diet of Asimov, Heinlein, Herbert, McCaffrey, and others. Peter F. Hamilton and John Scalzi are contemporary heroes. He is an Australian Canadian and lives near the Canadian Rockies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
December 27, 2023
At first I had a really hard time getting into this book. Something about the writing didn’t pull me in and there was a lot of explaining and groundwork happening that didn’t draw me in at first.
Once the action started about halfway through I couldn’t put the book down and think I read the final 40% in one sitting. There are one or two AIs wreaking havoc which is my absolute scifi soft spot – once they came into play I was done.
At first I was very interested in a geriatric main character. It’s just not something you see everyday and I really wish that the author had ran with this theme throughout the novel. Eventually it made sense why she didn’t.
An absolutely huge amount of ground is covered from galactic empires to sentient constructs, AI, human rejuvenation, and building a space ship crew. One problem with the breakneck pace required to cover this much ground in 320 pages is that a lot of interesting concepts are skimmed over without being explored. Then again I always complain when books get too long so I’m putting my own foot in my mouth. The series is five books long so I imagine that it slows down and spends more time with the characters and BioMech as it goes along. The huge back to back to back revelations left me reeling a bit and I need more page time to process some of the larger events!
The only editing issue I noticed is that the book needed a quick read for consistency. For example, characters communicating by radio or nanobot all of a sudden are able to turn and look at someone sitting up on the space ship, or a small event is mentioned that never occurred. Nothing big and overall the book has an excellent presentation.
Overall, I enjoyed the second half of Hammer and Crucible quite a bit. I liked the crew so far and am curious what happens to the AI & Array in the rest of the books so I may likely keep reading when time allows. Team At Boundary’s Edge is withholding our scores until we have all read the books.
Thanks for checking out my book review of Hammer and Crucible by Cameron Cooper. I was given a digital copy of the book for contest judging purposes, and as always, all opinions are my own 🚀
Once the action started about halfway through I couldn’t put the book down and think I read the final 40% in one sitting. There are one or two AIs wreaking havoc which is my absolute scifi soft spot – once they came into play I was done.
At first I was very interested in a geriatric main character. It’s just not something you see everyday and I really wish that the author had ran with this theme throughout the novel. Eventually it made sense why she didn’t.
An absolutely huge amount of ground is covered from galactic empires to sentient constructs, AI, human rejuvenation, and building a space ship crew. One problem with the breakneck pace required to cover this much ground in 320 pages is that a lot of interesting concepts are skimmed over without being explored. Then again I always complain when books get too long so I’m putting my own foot in my mouth. The series is five books long so I imagine that it slows down and spends more time with the characters and BioMech as it goes along. The huge back to back to back revelations left me reeling a bit and I need more page time to process some of the larger events!
The only editing issue I noticed is that the book needed a quick read for consistency. For example, characters communicating by radio or nanobot all of a sudden are able to turn and look at someone sitting up on the space ship, or a small event is mentioned that never occurred. Nothing big and overall the book has an excellent presentation.
Overall, I enjoyed the second half of Hammer and Crucible quite a bit. I liked the crew so far and am curious what happens to the AI & Array in the rest of the books so I may likely keep reading when time allows. Team At Boundary’s Edge is withholding our scores until we have all read the books.
Thanks for checking out my book review of Hammer and Crucible by Cameron Cooper. I was given a digital copy of the book for contest judging purposes, and as always, all opinions are my own 🚀
August 6, 2023
If you could live for five hundred years or more, would you accept a deal of 30 years’ work, 20 years’ break? And … well, isn’t that already what we’re doing with our lives?
This is one of the central themes of Hammer and Crucible. The story starts strong and continues nicely in the same vein, a nicely big scale sci-fi adventure complete with with space arrays and gates and cool med-tech and shit. Love it.
Our hero is Líadan aka. Danny aka. the Hammer, a former decorated warrior (the Imperial Hammer) with a haunted past. She lives on a space barge. Stop everything and just enjoy that for a second, because it doesn’t last long (although it does recur through the story). A space barge. I was immediately intrigued (space barge!), although Danny promised to be angsty and have a vendetta against the emperor (who the sentient space gates already declared an enemy in the pre-prologue teaser). It’s a combination, you see, that could easily have been painful to read, but it was really very well handled.
In Danny’s world, getting old is a rarity. When I first read this line I thought it was just a rugged statement about how dangerous space was, but it’s actually literally the case. Danny is the grizzled old cop waiting for retirement. Declining the option to regenerate and go back into service, she’s just settling in and preparing to die in peace, when the ol’ “one last time” taps her on the shoulder.
Danny’s past returns, in the form of her granddaughter Juliyana. The mission: clear Danny’s son’s (Juliyana’s father’s) name and solve the mysterious conspiracy surrounding his disgrace and death. And our adventure, a bizarre and heartwarming sci-fi road trip, is underway.
I liked the infodumping through the story, by the way. It’s a bit clunky in places but I prefer clunky infodumping to no infodumping. That’s just me though. The world needs more stories like this.
I was sufficiently drawn into the world to find myself wondering how folks generally died in this sci-fi future. Why is it so odd for someone to want to age and die? Is it actually that rare for people to opt out after 500+ years? One for the philosophers, I suppose – I would have enjoyed a bit more introspection on that, but it’s also cool that it was left to the readers.
Anyway, the conspiracy takes Danny and Juliyana to some cool and crazy places, and deeper and deeper into the truth as they go. I won’t spoil it by explaining what happens, but as you might expect from a grizzled old soldier who just wants to retire before one last job turns up, this one goes all the way to the top and the lid gets blown off the whole thing by the end.
Some random notes I made along the way, before we head into the meters:
- “Standard AI ethical foundation” I see what you did there.
- The twist was clever, but a bit dependent on the introduction throwing the reader off. But even that, I give a pass because it can be read retroactively a different way. Smart.
- I do wish the characters hadn’t “breathed” half of their dialogue. Made me feel like I had someone whispering moistly into my ear half the book. Just saying.
Alrighty then.
Sex-o-meter
Ahh, let’s hear it for the good old regeneration itch. Nobody’d be getting any rumpy pumpy done at all without that (which is probably for the best given the population dynamics that must be occurring in this empire). Considering the fact that the two main protagonists were a pair of tough lean battle maidens, the amount of sex was appropriate and minimal. Just enough to make sense, not enough to make me roll my eyes. A hot bit of grandmother-granddaughter action out of a possible hot bit of grandmother-granddaughter action. And no I will not be elaborating.
Gore-o-meter
Not a particularly gory outing, although the action was plentiful. One and a half gobbets out of a possible five. The story didn’t suffer for its lack of gore, either.
WTF-o-meter
This wasn’t exactly a WTF book, but the nature of consciousness, mortality, identity and belonging are all examined from different viewpoints – the weary insider and the innocent outsider chief among them. And the concept of “what if the Stargate network was alive?” is a cool one. Frankly I’m surprised the Stargate network didn’t achieve sentience, but this was a neat glimpse into what that might look like. The tech and the backstories of the various characters also created an excellent tech-meets-art exploration, and I just plain enjoyed it even if the WTF-o-meter is only giving it a single bulging eyeball out of a possible Un Chien Andalou with Rodney Dangerfield in it for some reason.
My Final Verdict
“Cameron Cooper is the author of The Indigo Reports science fiction series and the alter ego for an Amazon #1 bestselling author in an unrelated genre. The Indigo Reports was originally conceived as a one-off series, but readers demanded more. The Imperial Hammer series releases in early 2020.” – I had to squint a bit at this, is this an indie author or not? But ultimately I’m going to leave the gatekeeping to others and enjoy a decent story, that just serves to show there’s really no difference between the two author subspecies. This book needs some editing and the writing is clumsy in places, but it’s still good – and the fact that this author also got trad published and hit the bestseller list should give other indie authors hope. You know, in a … just imagine I said that in a way that wasn’t insulting, because I meant it as a compliment.
I also would have liked to see more about Lyth and that back-story. I assume we’ll see more in additional books. It had a solid ending and opening to the next thing. Four stars!
This is one of the central themes of Hammer and Crucible. The story starts strong and continues nicely in the same vein, a nicely big scale sci-fi adventure complete with with space arrays and gates and cool med-tech and shit. Love it.
Our hero is Líadan aka. Danny aka. the Hammer, a former decorated warrior (the Imperial Hammer) with a haunted past. She lives on a space barge. Stop everything and just enjoy that for a second, because it doesn’t last long (although it does recur through the story). A space barge. I was immediately intrigued (space barge!), although Danny promised to be angsty and have a vendetta against the emperor (who the sentient space gates already declared an enemy in the pre-prologue teaser). It’s a combination, you see, that could easily have been painful to read, but it was really very well handled.
In Danny’s world, getting old is a rarity. When I first read this line I thought it was just a rugged statement about how dangerous space was, but it’s actually literally the case. Danny is the grizzled old cop waiting for retirement. Declining the option to regenerate and go back into service, she’s just settling in and preparing to die in peace, when the ol’ “one last time” taps her on the shoulder.
Danny’s past returns, in the form of her granddaughter Juliyana. The mission: clear Danny’s son’s (Juliyana’s father’s) name and solve the mysterious conspiracy surrounding his disgrace and death. And our adventure, a bizarre and heartwarming sci-fi road trip, is underway.
I liked the infodumping through the story, by the way. It’s a bit clunky in places but I prefer clunky infodumping to no infodumping. That’s just me though. The world needs more stories like this.
I was sufficiently drawn into the world to find myself wondering how folks generally died in this sci-fi future. Why is it so odd for someone to want to age and die? Is it actually that rare for people to opt out after 500+ years? One for the philosophers, I suppose – I would have enjoyed a bit more introspection on that, but it’s also cool that it was left to the readers.
Anyway, the conspiracy takes Danny and Juliyana to some cool and crazy places, and deeper and deeper into the truth as they go. I won’t spoil it by explaining what happens, but as you might expect from a grizzled old soldier who just wants to retire before one last job turns up, this one goes all the way to the top and the lid gets blown off the whole thing by the end.
Some random notes I made along the way, before we head into the meters:
- “Standard AI ethical foundation” I see what you did there.
- The twist was clever, but a bit dependent on the introduction throwing the reader off. But even that, I give a pass because it can be read retroactively a different way. Smart.
- I do wish the characters hadn’t “breathed” half of their dialogue. Made me feel like I had someone whispering moistly into my ear half the book. Just saying.
Alrighty then.
Sex-o-meter
Ahh, let’s hear it for the good old regeneration itch. Nobody’d be getting any rumpy pumpy done at all without that (which is probably for the best given the population dynamics that must be occurring in this empire). Considering the fact that the two main protagonists were a pair of tough lean battle maidens, the amount of sex was appropriate and minimal. Just enough to make sense, not enough to make me roll my eyes. A hot bit of grandmother-granddaughter action out of a possible hot bit of grandmother-granddaughter action. And no I will not be elaborating.
Gore-o-meter
Not a particularly gory outing, although the action was plentiful. One and a half gobbets out of a possible five. The story didn’t suffer for its lack of gore, either.
WTF-o-meter
This wasn’t exactly a WTF book, but the nature of consciousness, mortality, identity and belonging are all examined from different viewpoints – the weary insider and the innocent outsider chief among them. And the concept of “what if the Stargate network was alive?” is a cool one. Frankly I’m surprised the Stargate network didn’t achieve sentience, but this was a neat glimpse into what that might look like. The tech and the backstories of the various characters also created an excellent tech-meets-art exploration, and I just plain enjoyed it even if the WTF-o-meter is only giving it a single bulging eyeball out of a possible Un Chien Andalou with Rodney Dangerfield in it for some reason.
My Final Verdict
“Cameron Cooper is the author of The Indigo Reports science fiction series and the alter ego for an Amazon #1 bestselling author in an unrelated genre. The Indigo Reports was originally conceived as a one-off series, but readers demanded more. The Imperial Hammer series releases in early 2020.” – I had to squint a bit at this, is this an indie author or not? But ultimately I’m going to leave the gatekeeping to others and enjoy a decent story, that just serves to show there’s really no difference between the two author subspecies. This book needs some editing and the writing is clumsy in places, but it’s still good – and the fact that this author also got trad published and hit the bestseller list should give other indie authors hope. You know, in a … just imagine I said that in a way that wasn’t insulting, because I meant it as a compliment.
I also would have liked to see more about Lyth and that back-story. I assume we’ll see more in additional books. It had a solid ending and opening to the next thing. Four stars!
July 4, 2023
Review originally posted on JamReads
Hammer and Crucible is the first book in the Imperial Hammer series, a space opera novel, written by Cameron Cooper. A plot that starts being a more political/military one that evolves into one with astral consequences and a female main character are some of the elements we find in this novel.
Danny, the Imperial Hammer, decided to let her life pass and die, a rarity among the inhabitants of the Imperium. And that's until she was given the clue that the death of her son 40 years ago might represent a conspiration organized by the own Emperor; in the company of her granddaughter, she will start a run across the Imperium trying to discover the truth behind it.
With this premise, Cooper creates a compelling space opera, but whose pacing is extremely slow in my opinion. There are so many filler moments that while it helps build the characters, but don't give any meaning to the plot; we spend half of the book or so just traveling from place to place for the rejuvenation of Danny and for a little investigation.
In comparison, the last quarter is frenetic, and where the plot really takes significance.
Characters are the best elements of this book, especially because Danny is a really well-built one, a person whose hope was lost until she was given another reason to live; her grandchild complements well her during most of the story.
The concept of the array gaining conscience is quite interesting, but again, I think it was not developed enough in this book, in general; we only get a small taste before the novel ends.
Hammer and Crucible is a good introductory novel to the universe of the Imperial Hammer series, and if you like space operas, you will probably end up liking it. For me, it was probably not my cup of tea, but still a competent one.
Disclaimer: This review and score represent only my personal opinion. Team scores might vary.
Hammer and Crucible is the first book in the Imperial Hammer series, a space opera novel, written by Cameron Cooper. A plot that starts being a more political/military one that evolves into one with astral consequences and a female main character are some of the elements we find in this novel.
Danny, the Imperial Hammer, decided to let her life pass and die, a rarity among the inhabitants of the Imperium. And that's until she was given the clue that the death of her son 40 years ago might represent a conspiration organized by the own Emperor; in the company of her granddaughter, she will start a run across the Imperium trying to discover the truth behind it.
With this premise, Cooper creates a compelling space opera, but whose pacing is extremely slow in my opinion. There are so many filler moments that while it helps build the characters, but don't give any meaning to the plot; we spend half of the book or so just traveling from place to place for the rejuvenation of Danny and for a little investigation.
In comparison, the last quarter is frenetic, and where the plot really takes significance.
Characters are the best elements of this book, especially because Danny is a really well-built one, a person whose hope was lost until she was given another reason to live; her grandchild complements well her during most of the story.
The concept of the array gaining conscience is quite interesting, but again, I think it was not developed enough in this book, in general; we only get a small taste before the novel ends.
Hammer and Crucible is a good introductory novel to the universe of the Imperial Hammer series, and if you like space operas, you will probably end up liking it. For me, it was probably not my cup of tea, but still a competent one.
Disclaimer: This review and score represent only my personal opinion. Team scores might vary.
July 14, 2023
Hammer and Crucible was a book that I wasn’t entirely sure about the first time I saw it. There wasn’t a specific reason for it but I was hesitant at first. I’m glad to say that I read this more quickly than anticipated and am eager to continue the series eventually. While it had a few things that didn’t quite work for me, overall I had a good time with it and am really glad SPSFC put this author on my radar.
The writing was really easy to read. This stood out to me from the start. There was a certain smoothness to it that felt really nice and thanks to not having a ton of complicated words and concepts, it was a book I could read even on some of my more tiring days. This was really nice to have because it can be really difficult for me to find the right books when I’m not feeling well.
While it did feel a little bit info dumpy in a couple of spots and some information seemed awkwardly placed, overall I liked the layout of the story and when and how different layers of intrigue were added. I liked how quickly the main problem was introduced and why it was so personal to the MC. Don’t be fooled though. There was still plenty of scheming to unravel despite what seemed to be a straightforward quest at first.
There were a couple of small details that felt discordant and the story felt like it was moving too slowly just a bit here and there. I also wished that some concepts had been explained just a little more. Overall though, the story had a really nice flow to it that allowed me to read it much more quickly than anticipated. There was a good amount of surprises that were revealed along the way as well as at the end that I hadn’t anticipated at all. This enabled the story to expand in unexpected ways that I am really excited to read about more in the future.
The writing was really easy to read. This stood out to me from the start. There was a certain smoothness to it that felt really nice and thanks to not having a ton of complicated words and concepts, it was a book I could read even on some of my more tiring days. This was really nice to have because it can be really difficult for me to find the right books when I’m not feeling well.
While it did feel a little bit info dumpy in a couple of spots and some information seemed awkwardly placed, overall I liked the layout of the story and when and how different layers of intrigue were added. I liked how quickly the main problem was introduced and why it was so personal to the MC. Don’t be fooled though. There was still plenty of scheming to unravel despite what seemed to be a straightforward quest at first.
There were a couple of small details that felt discordant and the story felt like it was moving too slowly just a bit here and there. I also wished that some concepts had been explained just a little more. Overall though, the story had a really nice flow to it that allowed me to read it much more quickly than anticipated. There was a good amount of surprises that were revealed along the way as well as at the end that I hadn’t anticipated at all. This enabled the story to expand in unexpected ways that I am really excited to read about more in the future.
July 16, 2023
/* Note: I read this as a finalist for SPSFC2. This review reflects only my personal opinion, not the opinion of the entire team. */
My Score: 6 / 10
Hammer & Crucible, from seasoned author Cameron Cooper, is a novel with a unique twist in the character line-up: instead of a typical sci-fi hero, we follow Danny Andela, a foul-mouthed grandmother in the final weeks of her life. This atypical protagonist was refreshing, offering a perspective in the genre that was new to me.
The book starts off promisingly, setting up a slowly unfolding mystery centered around the death of Danny's son. As a frail, elderly woman doggedly seeking the truth, she's a sympathetic character with captivating motivations. In Cooper's fictional future, almost everyone undergoes an anti-aging therapy called rejuvenation—few besides Danny choose otherwise. She surprises people everywhere she goes because of her choice. Add in her wise cracking attitude, and the book is great fun to read.
Unfortunately, the promising setup goes astray as Danny is forced to undergo rejuvenation early in the story to continue her hunt. The sudden twist strips her of her impending mortality, and thus her most sympathetic and unique trait. The subsequent introduction of other threats to replace the original ticking time bomb felt forced, an attempt to reinstate tension into the plot. It's a shame as the elderly protagonist was a great hook, but the narrative undermined what I took to be the entire premise of the story.
Another drawback was the unclear plot development. Withholding details about certain periods in the past—the Crazy Years—was likely intended to spur readers' curiosity, but unfortunately, it resulted in confusion instead. Some of the characters' reasoning for the actions they took didn't make sense to me either.
Despite that, there's still a lot that the author does right. The characters' personalities and overall motivations are well-established, and Cooper's dialogue provides an excellent example of trusting readers to pick things up without too much exposition. This quality carries over to the worldbuilding as well. Cooper doesn't over-indulge in detailed descriptions, leaving us to piece together the world and its workings, an approach which I personally prefer.
The picture I'm left with in my mind is a deep, well-realized world brimming with cool far-future ideas. So while I didn't particularly enjoy where the author chose to take the plot, I appreciate the thought and effort put into the world and how its unique aspects affect the story. If you're a sci-fi enthusiast looking for rich ideas, you can find much to appreciate in Hammer & Crucible. Just don't get overly attached to the grandmotherly qualities of the protagonist, as I did.
My Score: 6 / 10
Hammer & Crucible, from seasoned author Cameron Cooper, is a novel with a unique twist in the character line-up: instead of a typical sci-fi hero, we follow Danny Andela, a foul-mouthed grandmother in the final weeks of her life. This atypical protagonist was refreshing, offering a perspective in the genre that was new to me.
The book starts off promisingly, setting up a slowly unfolding mystery centered around the death of Danny's son. As a frail, elderly woman doggedly seeking the truth, she's a sympathetic character with captivating motivations. In Cooper's fictional future, almost everyone undergoes an anti-aging therapy called rejuvenation—few besides Danny choose otherwise. She surprises people everywhere she goes because of her choice. Add in her wise cracking attitude, and the book is great fun to read.
Unfortunately, the promising setup goes astray as Danny is forced to undergo rejuvenation early in the story to continue her hunt. The sudden twist strips her of her impending mortality, and thus her most sympathetic and unique trait. The subsequent introduction of other threats to replace the original ticking time bomb felt forced, an attempt to reinstate tension into the plot. It's a shame as the elderly protagonist was a great hook, but the narrative undermined what I took to be the entire premise of the story.
Another drawback was the unclear plot development. Withholding details about certain periods in the past—the Crazy Years—was likely intended to spur readers' curiosity, but unfortunately, it resulted in confusion instead. Some of the characters' reasoning for the actions they took didn't make sense to me either.
Despite that, there's still a lot that the author does right. The characters' personalities and overall motivations are well-established, and Cooper's dialogue provides an excellent example of trusting readers to pick things up without too much exposition. This quality carries over to the worldbuilding as well. Cooper doesn't over-indulge in detailed descriptions, leaving us to piece together the world and its workings, an approach which I personally prefer.
The picture I'm left with in my mind is a deep, well-realized world brimming with cool far-future ideas. So while I didn't particularly enjoy where the author chose to take the plot, I appreciate the thought and effort put into the world and how its unique aspects affect the story. If you're a sci-fi enthusiast looking for rich ideas, you can find much to appreciate in Hammer & Crucible. Just don't get overly attached to the grandmotherly qualities of the protagonist, as I did.
June 19, 2020
Once known as the Imperial Hammer, Danny Andela left the Imperial Rangers with her reputation ruined and went to live on her family’s star barge, where she ended up just waiting to die of old age. When her granddaughter Juliyana arrives and asks for her help to clear her father Noam's name, Danny reluctantly becomes embroiled in a plot that might involve not only the Emperor, but a sentient entity that has evolved from the array, which is where all travel and communications is done. Along the way Danny and Juliyana find Major Dalton and an extraordinary ship, a young engineer that accidentally comes along after a hasty exit at a space station, and finally, answers to the questions they all have regarding Danny’s son Noam, the Emperor and the array. I really enjoyed this world and the extraordinary characters in it. I look forward to reading more in this series.
July 18, 2021
4 stars. It deserves 4.5 stars for the writing but it had too many f-bombs.
Very interesting space opera. I thought the printing idea was realistic and genius (need an extra chair? print it, then recycle when done). I think the common rejuvenation process described in this world provides a lot more possibilities to explore what it means to be human and not worry about dying, and the economic implications, including the slavery mentioned. I hope those ideas get explored in the following books.
Very interesting space opera. I thought the printing idea was realistic and genius (need an extra chair? print it, then recycle when done). I think the common rejuvenation process described in this world provides a lot more possibilities to explore what it means to be human and not worry about dying, and the economic implications, including the slavery mentioned. I hope those ideas get explored in the following books.
September 23, 2020
A mind-blowing story in a captivating world with exceptional characters!
Wow, what an exciting story with more plot twists and surprises than a high mountain switchback road!
The complex concepts of the space-based life were broken into easy-to-read bites making this adventure totally captivating!
I was fascinated by the gradually revealed machinations as the mysteries of past events unfolded to reveal the full picture of what had really happened.
It seems like a slow introduction until suddenly I felt like I'd been dropped into exciting events that contain exhilarating elements of suspense and mystery. I had no idea of what would be uncovered from the past, and how it would affect their present, from one moment to the next.
This first book in the series has great closure but I'm hooked and keen to know what happens next in this space opera series.
Wow, what an exciting story with more plot twists and surprises than a high mountain switchback road!
The complex concepts of the space-based life were broken into easy-to-read bites making this adventure totally captivating!
I was fascinated by the gradually revealed machinations as the mysteries of past events unfolded to reveal the full picture of what had really happened.
It seems like a slow introduction until suddenly I felt like I'd been dropped into exciting events that contain exhilarating elements of suspense and mystery. I had no idea of what would be uncovered from the past, and how it would affect their present, from one moment to the next.
This first book in the series has great closure but I'm hooked and keen to know what happens next in this space opera series.
January 25, 2023
SPSFC Quarter Finalist Review
Hammer and Crucible
Cameron Cooper
Oh, this was good. Hammer and Crucible was the book that most fit my taste of all the books in the competition so far. We follow an unlikely, aged protagonist who is waiting to die. She has fallen far, has lost much, and is an overall cynical person. Until her granddaughter shows up and drags her into a plot to clear the name of a family member that meant much to them before he supposedly went mad and caused the death of a handful of others.
I love the characters in this novel. The family dynamics were excellently handled, which is always a plus for me. The individual journeys that the main characters go on were well executed, all while immersing the reader in a vast intergalactic setting and a heart-pounding plot.
To top it all off, there is an AMAZING sentient spaceship character that stole my heart in the second half. As soon as they were introduced, I was sure I was going to need to pick up book 2 in this series. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
I highly recommend this book if you like unlikely heroes, complex family dynamics, sci-fi action, or snarky sentient spaceships. I loved this!
Disclaimer: I am part of a team of judges, and my opinions are my own and do not fully represent those of my team.
Hammer and Crucible
Cameron Cooper
Oh, this was good. Hammer and Crucible was the book that most fit my taste of all the books in the competition so far. We follow an unlikely, aged protagonist who is waiting to die. She has fallen far, has lost much, and is an overall cynical person. Until her granddaughter shows up and drags her into a plot to clear the name of a family member that meant much to them before he supposedly went mad and caused the death of a handful of others.
I love the characters in this novel. The family dynamics were excellently handled, which is always a plus for me. The individual journeys that the main characters go on were well executed, all while immersing the reader in a vast intergalactic setting and a heart-pounding plot.
To top it all off, there is an AMAZING sentient spaceship character that stole my heart in the second half. As soon as they were introduced, I was sure I was going to need to pick up book 2 in this series. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
I highly recommend this book if you like unlikely heroes, complex family dynamics, sci-fi action, or snarky sentient spaceships. I loved this!
Disclaimer: I am part of a team of judges, and my opinions are my own and do not fully represent those of my team.
May 9, 2022
An amazing first book in this new sci-fi series. There is action, thrills, surprises, and a population in which a large majority need never know the aches and pains or show signs of aging. Space ships no longer need to take lifetimes to get from one area of space to another, they just use the"array", but the building of this amazing technology is not shared but used for power and profit. There appears to be a secret surrounding the one in power that some family members believe led to the death of one of their own, the downfall of a hero, the desertion from the military of another. The AI's are amazing in this fantastic world-building story, more than you'd ever suspect. With the help of a most unusual AI, family, and former military comrades, the heroine now knows she must find and uncover the truth. The journey is complex and filled with surprises and danger. You may think I've given you spoilers, think again cause there is sooo much happening between the lines. Start this new series and continue the journey, as I'm about to do with book 2; onward towards the stars, unknown dangers, and new discoveries.
March 15, 2020
I loved Hammer and Crucible! Couldn’t put it down. Danny (Colonel Andela, Retired) is an absolutely wonderful character - tough, smart, thoughtful, imaginative, empathetic - and her supporting characters are delightful. The plot is fascinating; it is intricate as well as filled with surprises and action. I’ll be eagerly awaiting more stories in this universe!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader copy of this book.
May 30, 2023
Disclaimer - I received a free copy of this book to review for the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC).
Finally, a space opera, science fiction story without a lot of killing! Okay, there is a lot of killing and battles mentioned in the story but all of it in the past and the reader is not subjected to reading all of the gory details. To the contrary, our hero regrets, rather than glorifies their past and has been greatly damaged by their former battles.
Hammer and Crucible is the first book in Cameron Coopers Imperial Hammer octology. In it we are introduced to our protagonist, Danny Adela, who was once known as the Imperial Hammer but who is now disgraced and hiding out, licking her wounds, and waiting to die. That is until her granddaughter, Juliyana, comes with evidence that her father, Danny’s son, Noam was framed for a massacre he didn’t commit.
Danny and Juliyana set off on a galaxy spanning search for evidence to clear Noam’s name along with shedding a lot of baggage the two of them have been carrying because of his alleged crimes. Along the way they meet a helpful AI, a seemingly magical spaceship, a reluctant ally named Dalton, and have to face down an evil emperor.
While there is a lot of stretching of scientific facts, the characters are entertaining, the storyline full of action, and enough plot twists to keep you interested. This book can definitely be read as a standalone but Coopers’ characters are interesting enough that there are seven more books of their adventures.
Finally, a space opera, science fiction story without a lot of killing! Okay, there is a lot of killing and battles mentioned in the story but all of it in the past and the reader is not subjected to reading all of the gory details. To the contrary, our hero regrets, rather than glorifies their past and has been greatly damaged by their former battles.
Hammer and Crucible is the first book in Cameron Coopers Imperial Hammer octology. In it we are introduced to our protagonist, Danny Adela, who was once known as the Imperial Hammer but who is now disgraced and hiding out, licking her wounds, and waiting to die. That is until her granddaughter, Juliyana, comes with evidence that her father, Danny’s son, Noam was framed for a massacre he didn’t commit.
Danny and Juliyana set off on a galaxy spanning search for evidence to clear Noam’s name along with shedding a lot of baggage the two of them have been carrying because of his alleged crimes. Along the way they meet a helpful AI, a seemingly magical spaceship, a reluctant ally named Dalton, and have to face down an evil emperor.
While there is a lot of stretching of scientific facts, the characters are entertaining, the storyline full of action, and enough plot twists to keep you interested. This book can definitely be read as a standalone but Coopers’ characters are interesting enough that there are seven more books of their adventures.
April 1, 2023
Here is another book I picked up in a block from Story Bundle. I use the sets to find new authors to try. I’m down for a good space opera.
What I found was just a bunch of running around and lots of coincidences. So many that even the characters wonder how they continue to happen. It comes off as more a story on rails than real twists. The blurb lets the cat out of the bag as to the mystery.
The climax ends with a thud. Did they really have to go through all of those motions or could they have simply walked in the front door? A lot of exposition at the end to explain everything within a few pages.
The only neat thing is the sentient ship. I love the idea of the interior’s capability, turning what can be dull rooms into something with more character. Plus the ship has more going for it than our human characters.
The setup for the next book is for the main character to use their cool ship to cruise around. It feels like the author used up a lot of plot in the first book, with its ending.
What I found was just a bunch of running around and lots of coincidences. So many that even the characters wonder how they continue to happen. It comes off as more a story on rails than real twists. The blurb lets the cat out of the bag as to the mystery.
The climax ends with a thud. Did they really have to go through all of those motions or could they have simply walked in the front door? A lot of exposition at the end to explain everything within a few pages.
The only neat thing is the sentient ship. I love the idea of the interior’s capability, turning what can be dull rooms into something with more character. Plus the ship has more going for it than our human characters.
The setup for the next book is for the main character to use their cool ship to cruise around. It feels like the author used up a lot of plot in the first book, with its ending.
May 2, 2023
An SPSFC2 Semi-Finalist Review. Now that the finalists are announced I'm happy to say this book has moved on to the Finalists Round! Congratulations!
My Rating: 9/10 (rounded up to a full 5/5 as I always round up for indie author scores)
This is the highest personal score I've given to a book in SPSFC 2 so far! I really enjoyed this one and it seemed to hit all the right notes with me.
This one is for the Space Opera fans, particularly those who may have grown up on Elizabeth Moon's early space operas (think Heris Serrano and the trilogy starting with Hunting Party).
Our protagonist is an older, retired Ranger (soldier) named Danny – once known as the Imperial Hammer. At one point Danny was famous but she was basically drummed out of the Rangers when her son Noam supposedly went mad and caused a disaster. Danny can't exactly remember that time as she's missing a chunk of memory, but it never did sit right with her.
In this world people are much longer lived, prolonging their lives through repeated rejuvenations. Of course, rejuvenation isn't free so people are essentially mortgaging themselves either to the Rangers or to corporations in exchange for the funds to rejuvenate or the rejuvenation process itself. Against that backdrop, Danny's decision to retire quietly on her family's space barge and let herself die of old age is an anomaly.
When Danny's granddaughter, Juliyana comes to see Danny with some new evidence regarding the circumstances regarding Noam's madness and his fate, Danny is drawn back into the wider world again. Their investigation leads them to meet up with Gabriel Dalton, once a junior officer of Danny's but also one of Noam's last commanding officers as well as a super-powered ship called the Supreme Lythion. The Lythion turns out to be a great character in its own right.
The deeper they dig, trying to stay one step ahead of the Imperial Rangers, the more questions come to light.
I found Danny and the rest of the characters to be extremely sympathetic, well-drawn, and three dimensional and that was my favorite part of the book. I'm a big character reader and these characters did it for me.
I also enjoy a good space opera and a plot with a well-delivered twist. This had a great twist and the pieces were there, it didn't come out of nowhere, I just didn't put them together before the big reveal. Without going into spoilers, I thought the author stuck the landing on this one which can be tough!
My criticisms on this one are few and far between. I did note the characters “breathed” their words a lot, but I got over it. I also had one quibble with a character choice at the end of the book that seemed unusually idealistic, and frankly kind of stupid of them, but it does allow for a good setup for sequels I suppose.
This is a series I'd definitely consider continuing on with – and luckily for me there are several sequels out already. In addition, it looks like the author, Cameron Cooper, is rather prolific and has a large back catalog already. I believe he also publishes under another name from his bio on Goodreads, but I'm not sure what the other name is or in what other genre he publishes.
Recommended for: Fans of Elizabeth Moon, space opera, older protagonists
My Rating: 9/10 (rounded up to a full 5/5 as I always round up for indie author scores)
This is the highest personal score I've given to a book in SPSFC 2 so far! I really enjoyed this one and it seemed to hit all the right notes with me.
This one is for the Space Opera fans, particularly those who may have grown up on Elizabeth Moon's early space operas (think Heris Serrano and the trilogy starting with Hunting Party).
Our protagonist is an older, retired Ranger (soldier) named Danny – once known as the Imperial Hammer. At one point Danny was famous but she was basically drummed out of the Rangers when her son Noam supposedly went mad and caused a disaster. Danny can't exactly remember that time as she's missing a chunk of memory, but it never did sit right with her.
In this world people are much longer lived, prolonging their lives through repeated rejuvenations. Of course, rejuvenation isn't free so people are essentially mortgaging themselves either to the Rangers or to corporations in exchange for the funds to rejuvenate or the rejuvenation process itself. Against that backdrop, Danny's decision to retire quietly on her family's space barge and let herself die of old age is an anomaly.
When Danny's granddaughter, Juliyana comes to see Danny with some new evidence regarding the circumstances regarding Noam's madness and his fate, Danny is drawn back into the wider world again. Their investigation leads them to meet up with Gabriel Dalton, once a junior officer of Danny's but also one of Noam's last commanding officers as well as a super-powered ship called the Supreme Lythion. The Lythion turns out to be a great character in its own right.
The deeper they dig, trying to stay one step ahead of the Imperial Rangers, the more questions come to light.
I found Danny and the rest of the characters to be extremely sympathetic, well-drawn, and three dimensional and that was my favorite part of the book. I'm a big character reader and these characters did it for me.
I also enjoy a good space opera and a plot with a well-delivered twist. This had a great twist and the pieces were there, it didn't come out of nowhere, I just didn't put them together before the big reveal. Without going into spoilers, I thought the author stuck the landing on this one which can be tough!
My criticisms on this one are few and far between. I did note the characters “breathed” their words a lot, but I got over it. I also had one quibble with a character choice at the end of the book that seemed unusually idealistic, and frankly kind of stupid of them, but it does allow for a good setup for sequels I suppose.
This is a series I'd definitely consider continuing on with – and luckily for me there are several sequels out already. In addition, it looks like the author, Cameron Cooper, is rather prolific and has a large back catalog already. I believe he also publishes under another name from his bio on Goodreads, but I'm not sure what the other name is or in what other genre he publishes.
Recommended for: Fans of Elizabeth Moon, space opera, older protagonists
June 19, 2023
I read Hammer and Crucible as part of a judging team for the second annual Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC2), where it is a finalist.
This is a book that felt like it knew exactly what it wanted to be, and largely delivered on those expectations. It’s an action-packed sci-fi thriller with a no-nonsense lead who’s been around the block a few times and plenty of twists and turns.
On the scene level, it’s well-written. Each piece of the story is engaging and easy to read, with the possible exception of some anti-aging mechanisms that make it hard to pin down exactly how old some of the major players are supposed to be acting.
On the whole book level? It does a fine job at tossing the reader from action scene to action scene, but there isn’t enough connective tissue to really create an attachment to any of the characters or emotional investment in the main plot. Which holds it back from being more than a fun-but-forgettable popcorn read.
First impression: 12/20. Full review and official SPSFC2 score to come at www.tarvolon.com
This is a book that felt like it knew exactly what it wanted to be, and largely delivered on those expectations. It’s an action-packed sci-fi thriller with a no-nonsense lead who’s been around the block a few times and plenty of twists and turns.
On the scene level, it’s well-written. Each piece of the story is engaging and easy to read, with the possible exception of some anti-aging mechanisms that make it hard to pin down exactly how old some of the major players are supposed to be acting.
On the whole book level? It does a fine job at tossing the reader from action scene to action scene, but there isn’t enough connective tissue to really create an attachment to any of the characters or emotional investment in the main plot. Which holds it back from being more than a fun-but-forgettable popcorn read.
First impression: 12/20. Full review and official SPSFC2 score to come at www.tarvolon.com
January 8, 2024
Her name is Danny Andela, once known as the Imperial Hammer, left the Imperial Rangers decades ago. She now lives on her family’s star barge, just waiting to die. But then her granddaughter, Juliyana, comes from nowhere and shows her a mystery about her son, Juliyana’s father, that needs to be solved. As history tells it, Noam, Danny’s son, went crazy and killed a lot of people before killing himself. But now, this clue, this mystery that needs to be solved, seems to be pointed at the Emperor.
It’s a very interesting universe with one heck of a twist at the end. The physical world-building is vague and sparse, as it should be in places, but in other settings, I have to wonder why. The ethereal world-building is mostly personal. The character interaction has some surprises but is believable. The characters’ histories has been made into part of the story.
This story has action and adventure, and it is in space. The story’s main character is a former military officer, while her granddaughter is on leave from the military. I give this read five stars out of five stars.
It’s a very interesting universe with one heck of a twist at the end. The physical world-building is vague and sparse, as it should be in places, but in other settings, I have to wonder why. The ethereal world-building is mostly personal. The character interaction has some surprises but is believable. The characters’ histories has been made into part of the story.
This story has action and adventure, and it is in space. The story’s main character is a former military officer, while her granddaughter is on leave from the military. I give this read five stars out of five stars.
January 26, 2024
Before I committed to this series, I thought I'd give the first book a try. It was a little slow to start but nothing to outrageous and certainly not enough for me put it down or book hop. The writing style had clear genetic linkages to some of the old masters but with some new more modern flavors. The plot deftly and naturally unfolded and there is a clear and expansive world build in the author's mind - which you definitely need for a good space opera.
I find it hard to review a space opera book without having read the whole arc, as for me all of the books in the arc need to meld together into a single expansive narrative. It was probably a 4.5 read for me but on the promise of things to come I just had to bump to 5.
Only a closing note, the author discloses some of their process for writing this book. It seems incredible to me that they managed to craft this story in the time that it took - but I guess sometimes stories just tell themselves and all the author can do is hold on (much like this book).
I find it hard to review a space opera book without having read the whole arc, as for me all of the books in the arc need to meld together into a single expansive narrative. It was probably a 4.5 read for me but on the promise of things to come I just had to bump to 5.
Only a closing note, the author discloses some of their process for writing this book. It seems incredible to me that they managed to craft this story in the time that it took - but I guess sometimes stories just tell themselves and all the author can do is hold on (much like this book).
May 2, 2021
Juliyana approaches her father Danny a retired Ranger and asks for her help to find her son Noam.
The task is not easy and they must find Dalton another old Ranger who supposedly was the last to see Noam. They then met Lyth a self awareness who is basically AI who controls an unbelievable ship. Then are then visited by an array who controls all the various gates that spacecraft have to enter . He has taken the form of Danny' son Noam and the are tasked to kill the Emperor . Not everything is as it appears and there are wheels within wheels Many adventures along teh way with some humor thrown in. Well worth the read.
The task is not easy and they must find Dalton another old Ranger who supposedly was the last to see Noam. They then met Lyth a self awareness who is basically AI who controls an unbelievable ship. Then are then visited by an array who controls all the various gates that spacecraft have to enter . He has taken the form of Danny' son Noam and the are tasked to kill the Emperor . Not everything is as it appears and there are wheels within wheels Many adventures along teh way with some humor thrown in. Well worth the read.
July 14, 2020
Almost Another O’Henry
While not a short story, the format for this book is very much like a classic O’Henry tale with a surprising twist at the end. The sci-fi is not always clearly defined and at times I was hunting to follow the storyline. Decent character development and some rather muddled supporting cast make the plot tough to follow at times. Ends on a twist with a positive ending.
While not a short story, the format for this book is very much like a classic O’Henry tale with a surprising twist at the end. The sci-fi is not always clearly defined and at times I was hunting to follow the storyline. Decent character development and some rather muddled supporting cast make the plot tough to follow at times. Ends on a twist with a positive ending.
October 22, 2021
An interesting story with lots of hidden secrets. Bits and pieces of past events reveal themselves as the story unfolds. I didn’t mind that but would have liked just a bit more information/background on the three main characters as they were introduced. I also would have liked just a bit more action but as far as an introductory book in a series, this one was good. I will likely grab the next one and see where it goes.
February 27, 2022
Hammer and Crucible by Cameron Cooper.
This book was sent to me as an Advance Reader Copy against an honest and fair review.
It was my first attempt at a novel from Cameron Cooper.
I have first to admit that I am a Sci-fi fan, nevertheless after years of reading it is unusual for me to be engrossed with a space story. In this case though, I found the scenario, an adventure movie, gripping and enjoyed the trip (through planets) it is featuring. Good reading.
This book was sent to me as an Advance Reader Copy against an honest and fair review.
It was my first attempt at a novel from Cameron Cooper.
I have first to admit that I am a Sci-fi fan, nevertheless after years of reading it is unusual for me to be engrossed with a space story. In this case though, I found the scenario, an adventure movie, gripping and enjoyed the trip (through planets) it is featuring. Good reading.
January 21, 2023
I loved these characters. I also liked that I couldn't tell exactly where it was going to go next. I think the middle slowed down a bit, but overall, I liked the pacing. The beginning really grabbed my attention and I was hooked on the mystery of the whole thing. Really great editing and great world building. But just the best characters. I loved Danny so much and want her to be my grandmother! :)
January 10, 2024
This was my first book of 2024!
I really enjoyed this and found the main characters interesting and intriguing. There aren’t many grandmothers in the science fiction I have read, if any! Many of the ideas were also inventive and kept me hooked. The ending had plenty of surprises and set up the series nicely. I haven’t yet decided whether I will continue to read on, but I may do.
I really enjoyed this and found the main characters interesting and intriguing. There aren’t many grandmothers in the science fiction I have read, if any! Many of the ideas were also inventive and kept me hooked. The ending had plenty of surprises and set up the series nicely. I haven’t yet decided whether I will continue to read on, but I may do.
October 4, 2024
This was a really entertaining book. It started a little slow, but once it got going, it never stopped! There are several interesting premises in this book, including rejuvenation treatments that the main character has been refusing.
There’s bit of deus ex machina that I raised my eyebrows at, but in general it is a great space opera. I look forward to reading more in the series.
There’s bit of deus ex machina that I raised my eyebrows at, but in general it is a great space opera. I look forward to reading more in the series.
November 27, 2021
Fantastic start to what looks to be a great series. The technology is woven into the story so seamlessly that it is hard to detect. The characters are well developed and easy to like.
Looking forward to the next book.
Looking forward to the next book.
Read
April 1, 2023I've already read the Iron Hammer series, the follow on to this Imperial Hammer series, so I won't be writing reviews for the Imperial Hammer books. I'm reading them for the backstory and character development that the Iron Hammer series gave snippets of, but left me curious.
July 8, 2023
This story is a amazing read it holds my attention very well. I have my snacks ready and take my time reading it. I love the characters. It's like a TV series I have buy the complete series. I will be adding this book to my book collection of favorites. Iler.
January 13, 2024
This was an exciting read, very hard to put down.
This was refreshing, the plot concept is an excellent variation on an often missed used idea.
The characters are intriguing, but you still wonder where their true goals lie.
The story is about people and friendships
This was refreshing, the plot concept is an excellent variation on an often missed used idea.
The characters are intriguing, but you still wonder where their true goals lie.
The story is about people and friendships
February 26, 2024
Time well spent
I enjoyed this book. It bogged down some toward the end, too philosophical, but overall, was thought provoking. Do we trust technology too much? How are we to know the motives behind the technology creators?
I enjoyed this book. It bogged down some toward the end, too philosophical, but overall, was thought provoking. Do we trust technology too much? How are we to know the motives behind the technology creators?
March 27, 2024
Unique idea
The idea is unique to this story. At times it felt to me that the story was stagnant. It just felt like it took forever to get to any real action. At the same time, the characters and storyline are well crafted. Worth the time to read.
The idea is unique to this story. At times it felt to me that the story was stagnant. It just felt like it took forever to get to any real action. At the same time, the characters and storyline are well crafted. Worth the time to read.
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